Nature, Culture, Geography, Travel & Adventure

Category Archives: activism

Ian Shive recently did double duty for the latest cover of The Nature Conservancy magazine, not only photographing the story but also shooting all of the video for the project which is now featured as a major initiative for TNC known as Outside Voices. For this piece, Ian conducted in-depth interviews with select individuals who had a unique perspective on what conservation means in their local area. One of the most fascinating profiles was with Mike Monroe whose family has lived on a piece of the Cumberland Plateau for many generations. Ian conducted all interviews and cinematography. Editing was done internally at TNC.

Ian Shive is proud to continue pushing the ever-expanding role that nature photography can play by using his recent top-selling book, The National Parks: Our American Landscape to open dialogue in foreign lands. Most recently, Ian’s book was presented to students and people in the embattled town and country of Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan. As is often the case, most people there do not think of our country as a haven of stunning wilderness. A self-labeled Wilderness Diplomat, a term Ian coined, he hopes that his book will continue to plant the seeds of conservation in developing nations, but also show a side of the United States that is often overlooked and unknown and, perhaps, open new dialogues with these people by showing that we are not always about development, but also about preserving the heritage and land that is is most meaningful to us. Ian had previously shared his work as a Wilderness Diplomat in the United Arab Emirates.

Take a 6-minute journey through America’s Southwest from the Grand Canyon to the white gypsum dunes of New Mexico. Go behind-the-scenes of Ian’s new book, The National Parks: Our American Landscape, and tune-in to Current TV on your local cable provider to see episodes 2, 3 and 4 throughout the month of August and September.

Ian Shive’s images will be part of a group effort by the International League of Conservation Photographers and other non-profits to lobby U.S. Congress to halt construction of the border fence along the US/Mexico border. The legislation being reintroduced is the Border Security and Responsibility Act of 2009 by rep. Raul Grijalva (Tuscon, AZ). Ian’s photos appear in a short documentary being presented at a Congressional briefing on Monday, April 27th and four of his images will be part of a group exhibit on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, April 29th. All are invited to attend the exhibit during the day until 5:30pm. Special thanks to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology for production of the film.

Rayburn Building Foyer, First Floor
Independence Avenue and South Capitol Street
Washington, D.C. 20003
Exhibit all day open to the public until 5:30pm

Feeling a little bit like the night before Christmas, I’m excited about tomorrow night’s upcoming exhibit. It will be a great night for environmentalism on a whole and the National Parks Conservation Association as well as being an amazing way to see my photos – as even I have never seen my own images so large before. Looking forward to seeing everyone out there! Look back here on Friday for some images from the event.